Almost-mating Timema insects on Snowdrop Bush
Here are more almost-mating Timema insects (Timema cristinae, Timematidae, Phasmida) on a leaf of native Snowdrop Bush (Styrax redivivus) in the Styracaceae plant family. I've found them on this shrub before, see this photo. I found quite a few of them on this shrub today, mostly in pairs like this. There was a shrub of Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum, Rosaceae) right next door, and I didn't find any on that shrub. I say "almost mating" because there doesn't seem to be any actual physical contact between them. Maybe they are just snuggling? More likely, this is male "mate guarding" in which males ride on the backs of females for periods up to several days to keep other males away - see BugGuide. We have brown Timemas and green ones and green ones with stripes - and it doesn't seem to matter much, compare this photo. I first thought I hadn't seen a brown female, but look here. The males (on top) are typically smaller than the ladies. If you look close, maybe you can see that the males have asymmetric claspers while the females have symmetric cerci. Timemas are atypical walkingstick insects which are endemic to California and neighboring states, and I've been finding lots of them lately. I have a bit more info in my comments on this photo. Happy almost-hump day! (San Marcos Pass, 19 April 2017)
Today started in a cloud, then turn sunny and nice, and then the wind kicked up in the afternoon. There have been gusts to 40 mph so far. Oh well, the next Macro Mondays challenge is to show motion blur in a macro photo. Usually I do everything I can to eliminate motion blur, but this time the wind might help me get a photo!
Almost-mating Timema insects on Snowdrop Bush
Here are more almost-mating Timema insects (Timema cristinae, Timematidae, Phasmida) on a leaf of native Snowdrop Bush (Styrax redivivus) in the Styracaceae plant family. I've found them on this shrub before, see this photo. I found quite a few of them on this shrub today, mostly in pairs like this. There was a shrub of Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum, Rosaceae) right next door, and I didn't find any on that shrub. I say "almost mating" because there doesn't seem to be any actual physical contact between them. Maybe they are just snuggling? More likely, this is male "mate guarding" in which males ride on the backs of females for periods up to several days to keep other males away - see BugGuide. We have brown Timemas and green ones and green ones with stripes - and it doesn't seem to matter much, compare this photo. I first thought I hadn't seen a brown female, but look here. The males (on top) are typically smaller than the ladies. If you look close, maybe you can see that the males have asymmetric claspers while the females have symmetric cerci. Timemas are atypical walkingstick insects which are endemic to California and neighboring states, and I've been finding lots of them lately. I have a bit more info in my comments on this photo. Happy almost-hump day! (San Marcos Pass, 19 April 2017)
Today started in a cloud, then turn sunny and nice, and then the wind kicked up in the afternoon. There have been gusts to 40 mph so far. Oh well, the next Macro Mondays challenge is to show motion blur in a macro photo. Usually I do everything I can to eliminate motion blur, but this time the wind might help me get a photo!